Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2129 of 17 December 2020 implementing Article 8a(1) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 of 18 May 2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus (1), and in particular Article 8a(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) On 18 May 2006, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus.

(2) On 9 August 2020, Belarus conducted presidential elections, which were found to be inconsistent with international standards and marred by the repression of independent candidates and a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in the wake of those elections. On 11 August 2020, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a declaration on behalf of the Union, assessing that the elections were neither free nor fair. It was also stated that measures against those responsible for violence, unjustified arrests and falsification of election results could be taken.

(3) On 2 October 2020, the Council adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1387 (2) which designated 40 persons identified as responsible for repression and intimidation of peaceful demonstrators, opposition members and journalists in the wake of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, as well as for the Central Electoral Commission’s misconduct of the electoral process for those elections.

(4) On 6 November 2020, in view of the gravity of the situation in Belarus, the Council adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1648 (3), which designated Alexandr Lukashenko and 14 other persons, among them persons from his close circle.

(5) On 19 November 2020, the Council agreed to proceed with the preparation of a further round of sanctions, as a response to the brutality of the Belarusian authorities and in support of the democratic rights of the Belarusian people.

(6) In view of the ongoing repression of civil society in Belarus, 29 persons and 7 entities should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006.

(7) Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 is hereby amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 17 December 2020.

For the Council The President S. SCHULZE

(1) OJ L 134, 20.5.2006, p. 1.

(2) Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1387 of 2 October 2020 implementing Article 8a(1) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus (OJ L 319 I, 2.10.2020, p. 1).

(3) Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1648 of 6 November 2020 implementing Article 8a(1) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus (OJ L 370 I, 6.11.2020, p. 1).